Watch hundreds of robots and drones in an amazing choreographed dance

Robots dance during a performance on CCTV's lunar new year gala 2016. Credit: CCTV/IDGNS

Hours-long entertainment shows are a staple of the new year in many East Asian countries, but none is greater than Chinese Central Television's lunar new year gala.

The TV spectacular, which is said to be watched by 700 million people, featured scores of the country's best-known singers but they all risked being upstaged by robots as the Year of the Monkey was ushered in.

A crew of 540 humanoid robots danced in perfect step to a song by Sun Nan (孙楠) against the impressive Guangzhou skyline.

It's mesmerizing to watch and a little scary too, especially if you're haunted by nightmares of a robot army taking over the world.

And just when the song approaches its climax, drones arrive! They numbered 29, according to Chinese media reports.

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